Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFPASC7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFPASC7’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; decorative-type inflorescences with deep purplish red-colored ray florets; relative tolerance to low temperatures; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFPASC7’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on May 26, 2020, application number A202658. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFPASC7’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in October, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 33592, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db 42758, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in August, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since August, 2015 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFPASC7’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFPASC7’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with deep purplish red-colored         ray florets.     -   6. Relatively tolerant to low temperatures.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are deep purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are very pale purple in color. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have obtuse to emarginate apices whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection have pointed apices.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are deep purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are deep red in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Barca’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Barca’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are deep purplish red in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Barca’ are dark greyed purple in color. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are straight whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Barca’ are incurved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFPASC7’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (top of the photographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFPASC7’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             33592, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number db             42758, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 76.3             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 84.5 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 21.4 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 69.3 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144B.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 138A to 138B.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 13.6 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Shape, in outline: Ovate             to oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Palmately lobed, serrate to dentate; sinuses             parallel to divergent and medium in depth. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Moderately to densely pubescent, not             rugose; moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent             venation; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy. Venation             pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 138B. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Darker than NN137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             147C; edges, close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to             146C; edges, close to 147A. Stipules: Quantity and             appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole             attachment to the stem. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About             0.6 mm. Shape, in outline: Ovate to obovate; occasionally             cleft. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately to             densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Densely pubescent; very slightly glossy.             Color: Upper surface: Darker than NN137A; venation, close to             146B. Lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with straight             obovate to narrowly obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular             disc florets; inflorescences borne perpendicular to             peduncles and face upright; ray and disc florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             52 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two to three weeks in an             interior environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 16 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             6.9 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 2.5 cm.             Disc diameter: About 6 mm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About             1.5 cm. Shape: Flattened globular to roughly globular.             Texture and luster: Distally, smooth and glabrous;             proximally, densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to NN137B, 138A and 138B; immature ray florets, close             to 71A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 arranged in             about five whorls. Length: About 2.4 cm, varying between 1             cm and 3.3 cm. Width: About 1 cm, varying between 0.2 cm and             1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate to narrowly obovate; straight. Apex:             Obtuse to shallowly emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About 20° to 70° from             vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 59A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 64A. Fully opened, upper             surface: More intense than close to between 61A and 71A;             venation, similar to lamina colors; color becoming closer to             72A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N74D and 75A to 75C; venation, similar to lamina colors;             color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 50 at the             center of the receptacle. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube; upper 15%             free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part: Entire.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Close to 145D; towards the apex, close to N144A to             N144B. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close             to 145D; towards the apex, close to N144B.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 24             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to 143A; lateral margins, translucent             and close to 157D and apical margins tinged with close to             N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to NN137B; lateral             margins, translucent and close to 157D and apical margins             tinged with close to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 10.3 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 13.5 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle: About 30° from the flowering stem             axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong.             Anther color: Close to 154D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc             florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About             7 mm. Style length: About 6.5 mm. Style color: Close to             145D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color: Close             to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Chrysanthemum plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFPASC7’ as illustrated and described. 